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5 Surprising Smoothie Ingredients

Personally, my day hasn’t started until some sort of smoothie has been made. Smoothies are such an easy way to get immediately hydrated and sneak in more fruits and veggies than I otherwise would for breakfast. While I have my go-to combinations (hello post-workout coffee shake or sneaky green smoothies!) that I return to time and again, sometimes it’s fun to mix things up with unexpected smoothie ingredients.

Here are a few nutrient-packed smoothie ingredients that might surprise you! Try adding them to your next Vega One™, Vega® Essentials or Vega® Protein & Greens smoothie and let me know what you think.

1. Oats

Take your morning oatmeal to go by blending it into a drinkable meal. Add ½ cup oats (you can use either leftover cooked oatmeal or uncooked rolled oats) into your blender with fruit and liquid of your choice. The easiest (and in my opinion tastiest for the winter months) is to combine with 1 banana, 1 spoonful nut butter and a generous dash of cinnamon. Add non-dairy milk and ice until you reach you desired consistency.

2. Cucumber

While it might seem odd, cucumbers are a great addition to a smoothie thanks to their high water content. Try adding 1 cucumber (peeled) to a smoothie made with coconut milk, frozen blueberries and lemon juice (up to 1 tablespoon). Melon also complements cucumber perfectly in a smoothie. So fresh and easy!

3. Avocado

Avocados add a smooth and creamy texture to a smoothie. They are a great texture swap for banana. If you’re feeling nervous try disguising it in a Vega One(TM) or Vega Essentials chocolate shake! I promise the avocado will make it rich, creamy and delicious. Pro tip: you can halve and freeze avocados that are almost past their prime by halving and placing in a re-sealable bag. Freezing will add another layer of texture and thickness. Try adding ½ avocado to each smoothie for best results.

4. Green Tea

Looking for a swap for your afternoon coffee? Consider making a mid-afternoon simple smoothie that includes green tea. Brew a batch of green tea and keep chilled in your refrigerator to add to smoothies or for a mid-day drink.

5. Broccoli

I know, I thought it sounded terrifying too. But, the truth is that broccoli adds veggies to your smoothie and really doesn’t change the taste at all. You can use fresh or frozen and typically aim for ½ to 1 cup of broccoli florets per smoothie. A simple combination is 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, 1 frozen banana, ½ cup broccoli florets, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and 1 scoop Vega Essentials Vanilla.